Lobelia plant named &#39;Duelobelcie15&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lobelia  plant named ‘Duelobelcie15’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and semi-mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; and light blue-colored flowers.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Lobelia hybrida

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘DUELOBELCIE15’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lobeliaplant, botanically known as Lobelia hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Duelobelcie15’.

The new Lobelia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new compact Lobelia plants with good vigorand numerous attractive flowers.

The new Lobelia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in June, 2012 of a proprietary selection of Lobelia hybridaidentified as code number F10-1308-001, not patented, as the female, orseed, parent with a proprietary selection of Lobelia hybrida identifiedas code number F12-1204-005, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Lobelia plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of thestated cross-pollination grown in a controlled greenhouse environment inRheinberg, Germany in May, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the Lobelia plant by vegetative cuttings inRheinberg, Germany since June, 2014 has shown that the unique featuresof this new Lobelia plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lobelia have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duelobelcie15’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Duelobelcie15’ as a new and distinct Lobeliaplant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and semi-mounding        plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely branching habit.    -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   5. Light blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lobelia differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia are more compact than plants of the        female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia and the female parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection        have lavender-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lobelia differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selectionhave darker blue-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lobelia can be compared to plants of Lobelia ‘HotWater Blue Improved’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of the new Lobelia differed fromplants of ‘Hot Water Blue Improved’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobelia were more compact than plants of        ‘Hot Water Blue Improved’.    -   2. Plants of the new Lobelia and ‘Hot Water Blue Improved’        differed in flower color as plants of ‘Hot Water Blue Improved’        had darker blue-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Lobelia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the actualcolors of the new Lobelia plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duelobelcie15’ grownin a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown in 10.5-cm containers during the summerin a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under culturalpractices typical of commercial Lobelia production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. andlight levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time threeweeks after planting and were 20 weeks old when the photograph and thedescription were taken. In the description, color references are made toThe Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2011 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lobelia hybrida ‘Duelobelcie15’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia hybrida            identified as code number F10-1308-001, not patented.        -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Lobelia hybrida            identified as code number F12-1204-005, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically white in color,            actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate            temperature and age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Form.—Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and            semi-mounding plant habit; freely branching habit with about            23 lateral branches per plant each primary lateral            developing multiple secondary laterals; moderately vigorous            growth habit; rapid growth rate.        -   Plant height.—About 23 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 51 cm.        -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 23 cm to 27 cm.            Diameter: About 2 mm. Internode length: About 1.5 cm to            3 cm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Pubescent. Color:            Close to 146A.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.        -   Length.—About 1.7 cm.        -   Width.—About 8 mm.        -   Shape.—Elliptical to oblanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute; recurved.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire or with shallow and irregular serrations.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Matte.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143B. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A; venation,            close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 146B and 178A; venation, close to 147A.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 3 mm to 5 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm            to 3 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper surface: Close to 143A. Color, lower            surface: Close to 143C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement, form and habit.—Solitary axillary            flowers with three broad lower (two laterals and one lip)            petals and two narrower upper (banner) petals; petals fused            towards the base into a narrow tube; freely flowering habit            with about 24 to 36 flowers and flower buds per lateral stem            at one time and about 550 to 800 flowers developing per            plant over the flowering season; flowers face upright to            outwardly.        -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants            begin flowering about seven weeks after planting; in the            garden, plants flower continuously from the spring until            frost in Germany.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—Longevity of individual            flowers is highly dependent on environmental conditions;            flowers typically last about four to five days on the plant;            flowers persistent.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flower buds.— Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 2.8 mm.            Shape: Obovate. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 145C and            96C.        -   Flower diameter.—About 1.9 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.1 cm.        -   Flower throat diameter.—About 2 mm to 3 mm.        -   Flower tube length.—About 6 mm to 8 mm.        -   Flower tube diameter at base.—About 2.5 mm to 4 mm.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five petals, petals            fused at the base into a narrow tube; three broad lower (two            laterals and one lip) petals and two narrower upper (banner)            petals. Three lower petals: Lobe length: About 10.2 mm. Lobe            width: About 6.6 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Rounded. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Two upper petals: Lobe length: About 7.2 mm. Lobe            width: About 1.5 mm to 3 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:            Rounded. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color, all petals: When opening,            upper surface: Close to 96C; towards the base, close to            N155D; spots, close to 99B. When opening, lower surface:            Close to 96D and 97C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to            98C; towards the base, close to N155D; spots, close to 95B;            venation, close to 98C; color becoming closer to 95D with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to 97B to            97D; venation, close to 97C. Throat: Close to 97A to 97D;            venation, close to 97B. Tube: Close to 97C; venation, close            to 97B.        -   Sepals.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five sepals, fused at            the base; star-shaped calyx. Length: About 5 mm to 6 mm.            Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acuminate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces:            Pubescent. Color, upper surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower            surface: Close to 146B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 1.6 cm. Diameter: About 1 mm.            Aspect: About 45° from the lateral stem axis. Strength:            Moderately strong, flexible. Texture: Pubescent. Color:            Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: About            five. Filament length: About 6 mm to 7 mm. Filament color:            Close to 95D and 97A. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther            shape: Lanceolate. Anther color: Close to 201A. Pollen            amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 155D. Pistils:            Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 7 mm to 9 mm.            Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 928. Style            length: About 5 mm to 7 mm. Style color: Close to 144C.            Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed on plants of the new Lobelia.-   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lobelia have not been    noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Lobelia    plants.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Lobelia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 40° C.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lobelia plant named ‘Duelobelcie15’as illustrated and described.